Leg structure for pallet



Nav. 24, 1959 L, J, Bum, i 2,914,282

LEG STRUCTURE FOR PALLET Filid July 16, 1956 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 24,1959 L.. J. BUDD 2,914,282

LEG STRUCTURE FOR PALLET Filed July 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Effi a frg. 6

I y 54 A/ United States Patent l LEG STRUCTURE FOR PALLET Larry J. Budd,Chicago, lll., assignor to Pallet l )evices, Inc., Des Plaines, Ill., acorporation of Illinois Application July 16, 1956, Serial No. 597,905

7 Claims. (Cl. 248-120) This invention relates generally to a loadsupporting structure and more particularlyy to a ber or paper boardpallet.

Manufacturers of liber hoard pallets have been making the leg structurefor their pallets integral with the pallets in the form of folded underreinforced tubes. The present. invention concerns itself with a new typeof leg structure for a pallet and the novel manner in which the legstructure is attached to the pallet.

The instant leg structure is comprised of two strips of flexiblematerial such as paper board which are of unequal length and are eachfolded into rectangular tubes. The tubes are telescoped with respect toone another and have means for interlocking themselves in assembly. Theleg structure may be assembled with the Ipallet by inserting the inneror inside rectangular tube through a rectangular opening in the pallet.The opening in the pallet has tabs cut out and turned under and whichare adapted to bear against the outside surface of the insiderectangular tube and against the inside surface of the outsiderectangular tube. Thereafter, the tubes l and tabs are glued together orotherwise fastened.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved pallet construction.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedleg structure for a pallet.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedstructural cooperation between a platform and its legs to provide apallet.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved pallet construction including legs therefor which lendthemselves to economical'manufac1 ture on a large production basis.

According to the general features of this invention there is provided afiber Iboard pallet including a platform and depending legs forsupporting the pallet. The platform has a rectangular opening defined byedges having depending turned under angularly arranged tabs about saidopening. The legs for said platform comprise shorter and longer stripseach having portions folded into generally rectangularly configuratedinner and outer leg sections. The generally rectangularly configuratedinner leg section has at least two of the portions overlapping at.

least two other of the portions with a notch at one o-f the cornersextending through the overlapped portions. The inner rectangularlycontigurated leg section is telescoped through the opening with theangularly arranged turned under tabs bearing against the outer surfaceof the inner leg structure. The generally. rectangularly conguratedouter leg section has the portions at the opposite ends of the stripfolded in face to `face relation and they extend diagonally from one ofthe corners with the outer leg section notched generally atsaid one ofthe corners. The outer section is telescoped over the inner section withthe notches engaged with one another in interlocked'assembly and withthe tabs sandwiched between the sections t maintain the sections inassembly with the platform.

2,914,282 Patented Nov. 24, 1959 ICC The edges of the opening are cutoutv at the junction of the edges with one another to minimize tearingof the liber board.

A further yfeature of this invention relates to the provision o-f atrussed leg structure for a pallet.

Other objects and features of the present invention will more fullybecome apparentk in view of the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings illustratingtherein a single embodiment in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my pallets in? stacked relationto one another and each supporting a load;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plane viewv ofmyA pallet in apreliminary stage of construction;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of an outside strip which is tobe folded into an outer rectangular tube;

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of an inside strip which is to befolded into an inner rectangular tube;

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of the outside stripafter having beenfolded to provide a rectangular tube;

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of the inside strip after having beenfolded to provide a rectangular tube;

Figure 7 is an enlarged top plan view of my partiallyI assembled pallethaving the inner tube extending through4 the opening and supported bythe pallet;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing in greaterdetail the structural relation of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a bottom elevation, similar to Figure 7, however, showingthe outside tube telescoped over the' inner tube to provide a legstructure which is in assembly with the pallet.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 in Figure l indicates generally my pallet whichis adapted to sustain a load 1'1' thereon by means of wire straps andthe like. Nested over the load 11 is a cap or cover 12. This cap orcover 12 provides a level surface upon which another pallet' and loadmay be maintained in stacked relation.

In order to facilitate the shipping and moving of the pallet 10 and theload carried thereon, legs 13 have been provided.

The pallet 10 also includes a bottom panel 14; The

legs 13 are adapted to maintain the bottom panel olf` of" the groundsurface thereby enabling the fork of a lift" portant aspect of thepresent invention concerns the fact the pallet 10 and particularly theleg structure 13 may be very economically manufactured with a minimum ofwaste.

lFrom Fiure l it will be perceived the cover 12 and.

the platform 14 are both preferably rectangular and cupshaped and formedin much the same manner. Both the cover 12 and the platform 14 lendthemselves to being manufactured from a flat strip of paper board andthe like. The strip (not shown) is initially blanked, and thereafter,sidewalls l5 are turned away from the blank at generally right angles.By reason of the fact certain of the sidewalls are cut with an extraamount of material, this material is utilized to provide flaps 16 whichmay be turned around the corner and engaged in face to face relationwith the adjacent sidewall 15. Thereafter, the" ilap 16 may be stapledat S or otherwise' secured to thea adjacent sidewall 15 and it is inthis manner the rectangular cup shaped cover 12 and platform 14 may beconstructed.

At the four corners of the platform 14 or the panel 14a are cut openings17 (Figures 7 and 9). In the formation of each of the openings 17, thepanel 14a is cut'to provide four adjacent triangular tabs 18. At thefour'corners of the rectangular opening 17 and more particularlyV at thejunction of the tabs 18 with the platform 14 is provided small cut outopenings 19 which are adapted to greatly diminish any likelihood of thematerial of the platform 14 from tearing or ripping. After the tabs 18have been cut out they are each bent or turned along score lines 20generally vertically downwardly as is viewed in Figures 2 and 8.

The leg structure 13 is comprised of two strips of paper board materialor the like 21 and 22 (Figures 3-6). Strip 21 is made considerablylonger than strip 22 so that when the respective strips are folded inthe manner hereafter described folded strip 22 will be able totelec'sope into folded strip 21.

The strip 21 is divided into six flaps or panels, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and28. Each of the panels 23-28 are separated from one another by scorelines 29. Panels 24-27 are of the same length while end panels 23 and 28are elongated as compared to the other panels. Positioned at the scoreline 29 on panels 23 and 28 are notched portions 30 defining notcheswhich extend approximately one-half of the strip.

When the strip 21 is folded, as seen in Figure 5, a rectangular tubularleg section 31 is provided. To reinforce the rectangular tube 31, theelongated panels 23 and 28 extend diagonally across at the corners ofthe tube with the notched portions 30 positioned at the corner fromwhere the elongated panels 23 and 28 emanate. To insure that the tube 31does not come apart, the panels 23 and 28 may be suitably secured bygluing or the like.

In Figure 4 is shown the second strip 22 which is shortened in length ascompared to strip 21 but is of the same width. The strip 22 is comprisedof six panels or flaps 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37. Each of the panels3237 are seperated from one another by one of score lines 38 which isthe line at which the panels are adapted to be folded relative to oneanother.

Adjacent the ends of the istrip 22, are provided notched portions 39defining notches which are about one-half the width of the strip 22.These notches 39 are positioned so that they are located at the junctionof panel 32 with panel 33 and at the junction of panel 36 with panel 37;a portion of each of the notches being cut away from the panels 32, 33and 36, 37.

The strip 22 has been folded to form a rectangular, tubular leg section40 in Figure 6. In the folding of the strip 22, the notches 37 arearranged so as to be located at one of the corners of the rectangulartube 4G. In order to provide a reinforced structure, panel 32 underlapspanel 36 and panel 33 underlaps shortened panel 37. To permanentlyassemble the tube 40, the flaps 32, 36 and 33, 37 may be glued orotherwise permanently secured together by means such as 'staples and thelike.

In view of the foregoing it will be appreciated how the components of myleg structure 13, namely, the strips 21 and 22, may be very economicallymanufactured with a minimum of Waste from strips of material,

To assemble the leg structure onto the platform 14 to form a pallet 10,the inner or smaller tubular leg section `40 is telescoped through theopening 17 (Figure 8). The tabs 18 which have been struck from the panel14 bear against the outer side of the leg section 40 and serve to holdthe tube 40 in place. At this stage of assembly, if desired, the tabs 18may be suitably secured to the leg section 40.

After the leg section 40 and the platform 14 have been assembledtogether, the larger rectangular tubular leg section 31 is aligned fromthe underside of the platform 4 14 with respect to leg section 40 sothat the openings or notches defined by notched portions 30 and 39 willengage one another. Thereafter, the section 31 is telescoped over thesection 40 including the flaps 18. When the tubes 31 and 40 are inengagement 'with one another, the elongated legs 23 and 28 of strip 21or tube 31 are adapted to extend through the notch 39 and in the section40 to interlock the tubes or sections together. To supplement thisinterlocked assembly, the tubes may be stapled, glued or otherwisesecured together to insure permanent assembly of the components thereof.By positioning or sandwiching the tabs 18 between the tubes 31 and 40,the leg structure 13 is maintained in assembly with the panel 14 todefine the pallet10.

As a tribute to the strength of my pallet 10 having the legs 13, testshave established the pallet as capable of sustaining in excess of athree thousand pound load.

While the present invention has been illustrated in conjunction with arectangular pallet utilizing four of the leg structures 13, it will beappreciated the pallet may assume any other shape and any 'suitablenumber of the leg structures 13 may be provided thereon.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

l. A paper board pallet construction including a platform and dependingpaper board legs for supporting the pallet, said platform having a cutout opening with the material cut out providing depending angularlyarranged tabs, said leg for said platform comprising folded shorter andlonger six flapped strips of paper board .with each strip folded intogenerally rectangularly crosssectioned inner and outer leg sections,said generally rectangularly cross-sectioned inner leg section havingtwo of the flaps overlapping two other of the flaps with a notch at oneof the corners extending through said overlapped flaps, said innerrectanglularly cross-sectioned leg sections telescoped through theopening with the angular tabs bearing against the outer surface of theinner leg structure, and said generally rectangularly cross-sectionedouter leg section having the flaps at the opposite ends of the stripfolded in face to face relation and extending diagonally from one of thecorners with said outer leg section notched generally at said one of thecorners, said outer section telescoped over said inner section with saidnotches engaged with one another in assembly and with said tabssandwiched between and secured with said sections to maintain thesections in assembly with the platform.

2. A pallet including a platform and depending legs for supporting thepallet, the improvement of the platform having an opening and dependingangularly arranged tabs about said opening, said leg for said platformcomprising folded shorter and longer strips each having portions foldedinto generally rectangularly cross-sec-V tioned inner and outer legsections, said generally rectangularly cross-sectioned inner leg sectionhaving at least two of the portions overlapping at least two other ofthe portions with a notch at one of the corners extending through saidoverlapped portions, said inner rectangularly cross-sectioned legsection telescoped through the opening with the angularly arranged tabsbearing against the outer surface of the inner leg structure, and said4generally rectangularly cross-sectioned outer leg section having theportions at the opposite ends of the strip folded in face to facerelation and extending diagonally:

from one of the corners with said outer leg section notched generally atsaid one of the corners, said outer section telescoped over said innersection with said notches engaged with one another in assembly and withsaid tabs sandwiched between and secured with said sections to maintainthe sections in assembly with the platform.

3. A pallet including a platform and depending legs for supporting thepallet in assembly therewith, the improvement of said leg for saidplatform comprising folded shorter and longer strips each havingportions folded into generally rectangularly cross-sectioned inner andouter leg sections, said generally rectangularly crosssectioned innerleg section having at least two of the portions overlapping at least twoother of the portions with a notch at one of the corners extendingthrough said overlapped portions, and said generally rectangularlycross-sectioned outer leg section having the portions at the oppositeends of the strip folded in face to face relation and extendingdiagonally from one of the corners with said outer leg section notchedgenerally at said one of the corners, said outer section telescoped oversaid inner section with said notches engaged with one another inassembly.

4. A leg structure for a pallet comprising folded strips providinggenerally rectangularly cross-sectioned inner and outer leg sections,said generally rectangularly crosssectioned inner leg sections having atleast two of the portions overlapping at least two other of the portionswith a notch at one of the corners extending through said overlappedportions, and said generally rectangularly cross-sectioned outer legsection having portions at the opposite ends of the strip folded in faceto face relation and extending diagonally from one of the corners withsaid outer leg section notched generally at said one of the corners,said outer section telescoped over said inner section with said notchesengaged with one another in assembly.

5. In a portable material handling pallet adapted for use in lift truckoperations and embodying therein a load supporting sheet member and aplurality of supporting tubes elevating said sheet member, means toreinforce the supporting sheet member comprising tab portions displacedfrom the plane of said sheet, which tab portions are disposed withinsaid tubes and are adapted to be secured thereto, said tubes eachcomprising inner and outer telescoped tubular sections each havingbottom edges with one of said sections comprising a strip having itsopposite free ends folded extending laterally across dividing thesection, said strip when folded having a tubular area between the foldedends which closes the folded ends, each of said sections having notchedareas which notched areas are engaged together when said sections are intelescoped assembly for closer cooperation between the sections and thetabs and also enabling the bottom edges of the sections to be placed 6in a common plane constituting a ground engaging surface.

6. A load supporting pallet embodying therein a base of sheet material,a load engageable member of sheet material spaced laterally from saidbase, a plurality of spaced apart pillars between said base and saidmember respectively, each pillar including an outer tubular member andan inner tubular member, which receive therebetween inturned tubularportions of said base and said load supporting member respectively, saidinner tubular member providing passages through the pallet and havingbottom edges, one of said tubular members comprising a strip having itsopposite free ends folded parallel extending laterally across dividingand bisecting the tubular member, each of said tubular members havingnotched areas which notched areas are engaged together when said tubularmembers are in telescoped assembly for closer cooperation between thetubular members and also enabling the bottom edges of the members to beplaced in a common plane constituting a ground engaging surface, thenotched areas on said strip being positioned at the intersections ofsaid free ends with said strip.

7. A pallet including a platform and depending ber board legs forsupporting the pallet in assembly therewith, said platform having aseries of openings with each opening having tabs turned away from theopening at the periphery thereof, said leg for said platform cornprisingshorter and longer strips each having portions folded into generallytubular inner and outer leg sections which are engaged on inner andouter sides of the tabs, said generally tubular inner leg section havinga notched portion, and said generally tubular outer leg section having anotched portion, said outer section telescoped over said inner sectionwith said notched portions engaged with one another along a bottom edgeof the leg in assembly.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.18,892 Gomes July 11, 1933 2,348,483 Lacy et al. May 9, 1944 2,493,562YarmanA Jan. 3, 1950 2,503,240 Cahners Apr. 11, 1950 2,507,588 Brandonet al. May 16, 1950 2,507,929 Pennebaker May 16, 1950 2,602,619 McIntyreJuly 8, 1952 2,691,500 Baumann Oct. 12, 1954

